Extension sickle for mowing machines



Jan. 15 1924.

C. W. .LEFLER EXTENSION SICKLE'FOR MOWING MACHINES Filed March 10 1921 2Sheets'Sheet 2 v id) atboz wag,

Patented Jan. 15, 1924.

- UNITED I STAT-ES I 1,489,729 PATENT oFFIcE.

CHARLES, w. LEFLER, or. BOISE, IDAHO.

EXTENSION SICKLEFOR MOWING MACHINES.

Application filed March 1'0, 1921. Serial No. 451,117.

machine and to be used to cut at any angle from the vertical outwardly.

An object is toprovide an attachment which may be applied to the shoe ofthe sickle of any type of mowing machine and which presents a rigid andwell supported and braced structurethus insuring efficient operation incutting at any angle.

A furtherobject resides in providing for adjustment of the sickle andbar, and in arranging means to hold the adjustments.

A still further object is to provide an apparatus of simple andinexpensive construction which can be readily manufactured and which isapplied without requiring the use of special tools or the services of askilled mechanic; and, while in use will give an operating efliciencyequivalent to a permanently constructed mechanism.

With these and other objects in view which will be apparent from thedrawings, specification and claims, this invention includes certainnovel features of construction and combinations of parts which will nowbe set forth.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one of the ground wheels of a mowingmachine showing the device of my invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the structure.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation.

Fig. 4 shows a detail of the drive connection.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail of the adjusting means to hold the angle ofthe cutter bar.

The ground wheel 1 of the mowing machine has a main frame member 2 ofsubstantially U-shaped form extending upon opposite sides thereof andthis frame memher is mounted upon the axle 3 of the machine. The framemember is disposed with the loop thereof rearwardly and the forward endsare brought together and riveted or otherwise secured; bers 4 areconnected with the main frame member on opposite sides of wheel 1 toextend forwardly and have their free ends secured together substantiallyvertically Supporting frame mem- 1 above the secured ends of the mainframe member. Braces 5 and 6 are connected between the main and thesupporting frame members and a rigid supporting frame structure is thusprovided.

An open bevel gearris mounted rigidly on the ground wheel 1concentrically around axle 3 to turn with the wheel, and a bevel pinion8 fixed on a shaft9 mounted in bearlngs 9' on the mam frame member 1s111 mesh with the bevel gear 7. At the lower end of frame member 2ahollow shoe 10 is provided, this shoe being shaped to slip over the shoeof the mowing machine and being secured thereon by a single bolt orother means which will'allow for slight play 1 l between themain'machine and the auxiliary structure; This shoe 10 has a cutter bar11 givenswing'ing mounting thereon, this cutte'r bar being of ordinarytype with the possible exception that the fingers be made somewhatlonger than usual so that the grass or grain being out will be morereadily picked up.

The knives are driven from the usual pitman 12, and the shaft 13 of thispitman is connected by a universal joint at 14; with shaft 9, a directoperating drive being thus made.

To give lateral support and bracing to the frame structure one or morepipe braces as indicated at 15 may be extended from the extensionstructure to the frame of the mowing machine, to which the braces willbe attached by means of U-bolts or other suitable fastenings. The bracescan be bent or shaped to suit the requirements and to give properclearance.

At the upper end of bar 11 a rod 16 is pivotally connected, this rodbeing fitted slidably through a holder 17 mounted on the ends ofsupporting frame members 4, and a set screw 18 is provided to betightened against rod 16 to hold adjustments thereof. By this means thissickle bar is held in any desired angular adjustments from the verticalto the horizontal position, and may even be dropped with its outer endangularly below the horizontal.

In the construction of the extension sickle structure guards of thenecessary design will be applied for the protection of the workingparts, and the structure will be otherwise built with a view to meetingany special requirements in use.

While,in the foregoing, I have described specific embodiments, and havementioned only certain possible modifications, and have illustrated onlyone manner of attachment, it will be appreciated that in practice I donot limit myself to such specific details as herein set forth, but mayresort to any practical modifications falling within the scope of theinvention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An extension sickle for mowing machines including with asubstantially U- shaped main frame member to be mounted on the axle of amowing machine and em brace one of the ground wheels thereof, supportingframe members and braces associated with the main frame member toprovide a supporting frame structure extending forwardly andsubstantially in vertical line with the shoe of the mowing machine, ahollow shoe mounted on the lower portion of the frame structure toreceive and be secured upon the shoe of the mowing ma chine, anextension sickle structure pivoted at one end upon the supporting frameadjacent the hollow shoe to swing to any angle from the verticaloutwardly, a rod pivoted on the outer end of the extension sickle bar, aholder mounted on the main extension sickle.

2. An extension sickle for mowing machines including with asubstantially U- shaped main frame member to be mounted -on the axle ofa mowing machine and em brace one of the ground wheels thereof,supporting frame members and braces associated with the main framemember to provide a supporting frame structure extend ing forwardly andsubstantially in vertical line with the shoe of the mowing machine, ahollow shoe mounted on the lower portion of the frame structure toreceive and be secured upon the shoe of the mowing machine, an extensionsickle structure pivoted at one end upon the supporting frame adjacentthe hollow shoe to swing to any angle from the vertical outwardly, a rodpivoted on the outer end of the extension sickle bar, a holder mountedon the main frame through which said rod is slidable and by whichadjustments of the extension sickle are held, a gear mounted on theground wheel embraced by the supporting frame, a shaft havin drivingconnection to the extension sick e, and a pinion on said shaft meshingwith the gear on the ground wheel.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

' CHARLES W. LE'FLER.

